why

why  (hw, w)

adv.

For what purpose, reason, or cause; with what intention, justification, or motive: Why is the door shut? Why do birds sing?

conj.

1. The reason, cause, or purpose for which: I know why you left.

2. Usage Problem On account of which; for which: "The reason why [regular verbs] are called regular is that we can predict what all the other three forms are" Randolph Quirk.

n. pl. whys

1. The cause or intention underlying a given action or situation: studying the whys of antisocial behavior.

2. A difficult problem or question.

interj.

Used to express mild surprise, indignation, or impatience.

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[Middle English, from Old English hw; see k^wo- in Indo-European roots.]

Usage Note: Many critics have held that why is redundant in the expression the reason why, as in The reason why he accepted the nomination is not clear. While it is true that why could be eliminated from such examples with no loss to the sense, the construction has been used by reputable English writers since the Renaissance. See Usage Note at where.

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why

Adverb

for what reason?: why did he marry her?, she avoided asking him why he was there

pron

for or because of which: you can think of all kinds of reasons why you should not believe it

Noun

pl whys

the whys and wherefores See wherefore (sense 1)

interj

an exclamation of surprise, indignation, or impatience: why, I listen to you on the radio twice a week [Old English hwȳ, hwī]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

why - the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores' wherefore reason, ground - a rational motive for a belief or action; "the reason that war was declared"; "the grounds for their declaration"

Translations

why [waɪ] adv → por qué;

why not? → ¿por qué no?;

why not do it now? → ¿por qué no lo haces (or hacemos ahora? conj I wonder why he said that → me pregunto por qué dijo eso;

that's not why I'm here → no es por eso (por lo) que estoy aquí;

the reason why → la razón por la que excl (expressing surprise, shock, annoyance) → ¡hombre!, ¡vaya!;

(explaining): why, it's you! → ¡hombre, eres tú!;

why, that's impossible → ¡pero si eso es imposible!

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why [waɪ] adv → pourquoi;

why is he late? → pourquoi est-il en retard?;

why not? → pourquoi pas? conj I wonder why he said that → je me demande pourquoi il a dit ça;

that's not why I'm here → ce n'est pas pour ça que je suis là;

the reason why → la raison pour laquelle excl → eh bien!, tiens!;

why, it's you! → tiens, c'est vous!;

why, that's impossible! → voyons, c'est impossible!

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why [waɪ] adv → warum;

why not? → warum nicht? conj → warum;

I wonder why he said that → ich frage mich, warum er das gesagt hat;

that's not why I'm here → ich bin nicht deswegen hier;

the reason why → der Grund, warum or weshalb excl (expressing surprise, shock) → na so was;

(expressing annoyance) → ach;

why, yes (of course) → aber ja doch;

why, it's you! → na so was, du bists!

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why [waɪ] adv, conj → perché

excl (surprise) → ma guarda un po'!;

(remonstrating) → ma (via)!;

(explaining) → ebbene!;

why not? → perché no?;

why not do it now? → perché non farlo adesso?;

the reason why → il motivo per cui